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 CptJake wrote:
Vox article describing troubles in the Democratic party.

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/19/9565119/democrats-in-deep-trouble

Pretty good article, there. I think the real hurdle the Ds face in the coming election is that they have no major "cause" to bang their drum on. The Rs were able to practically sleep their way into 2014 by banging the drum of "Obama bad, ACA bad", but the Ds don't really have something on that same level, and the Rs are still able to bang the same drum.

Whoa... my twittah feed is hopping.

I have a very good source close to Joe that tells me VP Biden will run for Prez

— US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) October 19, 2015

and

BREAKING: Joe Biden to announce whether he is running for president in 2016 or not in the next 48 hours, sources tell @NBCNews.

— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) October 19, 2015

Some may say that this is a "good" thing for Hillary... as Biden will shoulder most of the Obama policies running as a "3rd Obama Administration" thang.

However, Uncle Joe is infinitely more "likable" than Clinton... so, who knows how this'll translate.

I'd certainly want him to win vs Clinton. Although I have no say in the matter, not being a democrat.

I'd rather have Biden over Trump or Hillary.

But then, I'd be settling for the lesser of three evils, and that's wrong.

Never settle.

I'm voting Hastur.

3 times.

/tinfoil hat time!
It’s interesting... the conspiracist region of my brain is saying that Obama is pushing Biden to run, as good 'ole Joe will be a good soldier for Obama's post-Presidential years... which leads me to think that Obama is going to let the FBI and DOJ take Hillary down.

I'd have to say, the Obama presidency would not be a total loss if it means Hillary is behind bars.
/tinfoil hat off!



Joe still needs to declare, and if he does... do ya'll really think he can take down the Clintons? He is NOT a savvy campaigner like Obama.

 whembly wrote:
/tinfoil hat time!
It’s interesting... the conspiracist region of my brain is saying that Obama is pushing Biden to run, as good 'ole Joe will be a good soldier for Obama's post-Presidential years... which leads me to think that Obama is going to let the FBI and DOJ take Hillary down.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/425752/obama-2016-joe-biden-hillary-clinton

Others have a similar idea.

We'll see if he announces soon. (imma read that shortly)

In the meantime, does Trump have Iowa in the bag yet?

If it's to let the DOJ take on Hillary, what about Bernie?

I suppose they could reconvene the House Un-American Activities committee to take care of him and his socialist ways.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
If it's to let the DOJ take on Hillary, what about Bernie?

I suppose they could reconvene the House Un-American Activities committee to take care of him and his socialist ways.

That's called, not voting for him.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

 CptJake wrote:
Vox article describing troubles in the Democratic party.

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/19/9565119/democrats-in-deep-trouble

Pretty good article, there. I think the real hurdle the Ds face in the coming election is that they have no major "cause" to bang their drum on. The Rs were able to practically sleep their way into 2014 by banging the drum of "Obama bad, ACA bad", but the Ds don't really have something on that same level, and the Rs are still able to bang the same drum.

Considering the Democrats are coming off holding the Whitehouse for 2 terms and spent most of the first term with a supermajority in Congress there really shouldn't be a cause to bang their drum on. If there is a major unresolved issue for the Democrats to campaign on for 2016 then it's a tacit admission of a failure during Obama's two terms to fix it.

Prestor Jon wrote:

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

 CptJake wrote:
Vox article describing troubles in the Democratic party.

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/19/9565119/democrats-in-deep-trouble

Pretty good article, there. I think the real hurdle the Ds face in the coming election is that they have no major "cause" to bang their drum on. The Rs were able to practically sleep their way into 2014 by banging the drum of "Obama bad, ACA bad", but the Ds don't really have something on that same level, and the Rs are still able to bang the same drum.

Considering the Democrats are coming off holding the Whitehouse for 2 terms and spent most of the first term with a supermajority in Congress there really shouldn't be a cause to bang their drum on. If there is a major unresolved issue for the Democrats to campaign on for 2016 then it's a tacit admission of a failure during Obama's two terms to fix it.

That would be true if it weren't for the fact that, you know, your country isn't in a stationary state but is constantly evolving.

There are the following to address:

Gun violence
Mental health care
True universal health care
College tuition/debt
Minimum wage
Social security
Corporate tax rates and loopholes

Just to name a few

Yeah, but how do you fit all of that into a 15-30 second radio/tv ad? The republican campaign message in 2014 was short and simple (seriously, every ad I heard said the same thing: "I'm gonna fight Obama and Obamacare", and that was even for those running for state office, too).

Dont forget

VA
VA Claims
VA deaths while awaiting approval for care
VA ineptitude
Military funding: we need less of it spent on better things. GET RID OF CONTRACTING
TRICARE: Why is TRICARE only covering things that are life threatening. "What your kid got sick and had a fever and you had the temerity to bring her to the doctor! NO SOUP FOR YOU".

Of course then we have the civilian side. National Debt
Healthcare in general
Welfare in general
Justin Bieber....seriously why haven't we invaded Canada yet about this travesty?

EDIT: Weird double post.

I like Biden. But I hope he doesn't run. From his Colbert interview I felt like his heart wasn't in it

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
Pretty good article, there. I think the real hurdle the Ds face in the coming election is that they have no major "cause" to bang their drum on. The Rs were able to practically sleep their way into 2014 by banging the drum of "Obama bad, ACA bad", but the Ds don't really have something on that same level, and the Rs are still able to bang the same drum.

They are beating the gun control drum pretty hard

Recently, not really that much. And it generally goes away within a month or two, until the next major shooting event.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:
Recently, not really that much. And it generally goes away within a month or two, until the next major shooting event.

And it's never more than just a bunch of people pretty much mumbling "something something guns something something" without ever having any kind of plan or anything. It's hardly any kind of actual effort, but whenever a democrat mentions guns the NRA starts calling people and the price of 9mm ammo goes through the roof and I can't find any .22 bricks anymore.

 A Town Called Malus wrote:

Prestor Jon wrote:

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

 CptJake wrote:
Vox article describing troubles in the Democratic party.

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/19/9565119/democrats-in-deep-trouble

Pretty good article, there. I think the real hurdle the Ds face in the coming election is that they have no major "cause" to bang their drum on. The Rs were able to practically sleep their way into 2014 by banging the drum of "Obama bad, ACA bad", but the Ds don't really have something on that same level, and the Rs are still able to bang the same drum.

Considering the Democrats are coming off holding the Whitehouse for 2 terms and spent most of the first term with a supermajority in Congress there really shouldn't be a cause to bang their drum on. If there is a major unresolved issue for the Democrats to campaign on for 2016 then it's a tacit admission of a failure during Obama's two terms to fix it.

That would be true if it weren't for the fact that, you know, your country isn't in a stationary state but is constantly evolving.

Situations always change and evolve. That doesn't change the fact that running on issues you failed to address while being part of the administration and the controlling party in Congress is a losing strategy.

 d-usa wrote:
the price of 9mm ammo goes through the roof and I can't find any .22 bricks anymore.

I've been doing okay on 9mm, and a buddy of mine picked up two 550 round cartons of .22 for me earlier this year at under $20 a carton. I was pretty happy. Actually, my daughter is probably happier as she shoots most of it.

In other news:

GOP Chairman commits treason and releases classified information that he is angry at Hillary for including in her emails.

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/house-benghazi-committee-chairman-trey-gowdy-200901550.html

 d-usa wrote:
In other news:

GOP Chairman commits treason and releases classified information that he is angry at Hillary for including in her emails.

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/house-benghazi-committee-chairman-trey-gowdy-200901550.html

It's the gift that just keeps on giving.

What can you even say at this point?

 Ouze wrote:
What can you even say at this point?

Because they really are serious. Still wondering when they're going to realize they are burning more political capital on these farces than they will ever gain.

 d-usa wrote:
In other news:

GOP Chairman commits treason and releases classified information that he is angry at Hillary for including in her emails.

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/house-benghazi-committee-chairman-trey-gowdy-200901550.html

Another wonderful example of someone who needs to have their clearance REVOKED! If you can't be bothered to not release classified material then SHUT THE FETH UP! let someone more competent talk to the media.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/19/politics/planned-parenthood-videos/index.html

And those Planned Parenthood videos now begin to show holes as well. Lovely.

The Chinese Premier is in Britain for a 4 day state visit, and Britain has been on its hands and knees these past months trying to get business deals done with the Chinese.

Now, what has this to do with the USA? Well, the debate in Britain is whether we should move away from the 'special relationship' and bow down to our new Chinese overlords

or stick with the USA.

A lot of people in the UK seem to think that the USA is a spent force, it had its day in the sun, and with China on the rise, we should get with the times.

Now, I don't believe for one minute the USA is finished. Too much money and too much technical innovation going on there.

However, in a lot of ways, I think the USA is shooting itself in the foot. None of the presidential candidates look capable of handling the Chinese challenge, and the last thing the USA needs is another Clinton or Bush in the White House.

You guys need to go back to your roots.

China is a authoritarian country, so the USA needs more freedom. By that, it should be upholding the constitution, cracking down on corruption, and breaking the cartel of elites that seem to have hijacked the nation. Take the moral high ground and give power back to the people.

You guys also need to start selling the American dream again - promote yourself as the land of dreams and opportunity. More migrants are needed, not less.

Something interesting I learned in responding to someone elsewhere....

96% of US GDP is DEBT

Very few countries are higher.

Italy
France
Greece
Ireland

(And we all know how poorly they are struggling with this issue!)

So what does that mean?

It means the US is propping up its economy by inflating it with debt. It is a "hollow" economy that really, one could say, is on life support.

This is not a sustainable way to drive an economy!

In then past 14 years ot has risen, so it is both parties fault.

Something interesting to think about when you hear the panderings from both sides.

 TheMeanDM wrote:
Something interesting I learned in responding to someone elsewhere....

96% of US GDP is DEBT

Very few countries are higher.

Italy
France
Greece
Ireland

(And we all know how poorly they are struggling with this issue!)

So what does that mean?

It means the US is propping up its economy by inflating it with debt. It is a "hollow" economy that really, one could say, is on life support.

This is not a sustainable way to drive an economy!

In then past 14 years ot has risen, so it is both parties fault.

Something interesting to think about when you hear the panderings from both sides.

Clinton lowered the National Deficit to GDP from 66% to 56%
Bush had the national deficit to GDP ratio to 84.2% at the end of his presidency
Obama raised the national deficit to GDP ratio to 102%, and that number is the 2013 number so it might be higher.

In Obama's first 4 years in office he managed to raise the deficit as much as Bush did while fighting 2 wars at the height of them both. I am not lionizing Bush but I am demonizing Obama. A man who campaigned under the idea of fixing the economy managed to destroy it further. You can point to the increase in jobs and economy recovering slightly but at the same time when the government throws literally trillions of dollars into failing enterprises your going to get temporary recovery. I almost want the democrats to win this election and the one after that. With 4 uninterrupted presidencies they can't possibly say that the policies they set forth work. Why can't we as a country just admit failure in some of our ideas instead of doubling down on them. Republicans have a lot of ideas that are failures and so do the democrats, why not learn from these mistakes and better our country as a whole?